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Hi-
Bill Bell joined the Sousa Band in 1921 and continued with the Band through 1923.
While with the Band, he was a soloist each of the three Summers at Willow Grove Park.
Below is an autographed pic of Bell in 1921 at Willow Grove with his Conn Raincatcher.


The solo Bell played was The Mighty Deep by Jude from 1898. Here are the four actual programs from Willow Grove showing Bell as soloist on the piece.









This Tuesday, I will be rehearsing with an area Summer Band and will play The Mighty Deep with them three times this July on my silver Conn Raincatcher from 1923.

While quite an easy piece to play with band, some of you might want to do it yourself— possibly in 2021-23— with a band to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bell soloing with the Sousa Band. As far as we know, Bell only soloed with the Sousa Band at Willow Grove.

Regards-
Mark

Probably the youngest and thinnest I've ever seen Bill Bell Cool pic and programs

Thanks for sharing. This is fabulous! I too will be performing this solo-- with the Mesquite Community Band, in Texas. I am engraving and publishing full score and (edited) parts. The newly-revised edition will be ready by the end of this summer.

Stephen Shoop wrote:Thanks for sharing. This is fabulous! I too will be performing this solo-- with the Mesquite Community Band, in Texas. I am engraving and publishing full score and (edited) parts. The newly-revised edition will be ready by the end of this summer.

Fantastic!

bloke wrote:This young gent was really tall and really handsome.
It's amazing how devastating alcohol use (funny stories...ha-ha-ha ) really is.
When was that Golden Crest l.p. recorded...roughly around 1960...??
I would wonder what he sounded like (no...not when playing a 7/4 sousaphone) when younger and in much better health.

Sad, and very true.

His album cover is on the wall at McSorley's Old Ale House on 7th Street in Manhattan (one of my old haunts, back when I lived in the city), on the back wall to the left of the "new" ladies room. To get ANYTHING enshrined on the wall in that place, one must have been exceptional at something - for him, the lore is that he holds the record for the most ale consumed in one sitting.

That album cover was moved around over the years. I hope it's still on the wall there; I spent quite a few nights there myself. Nice to see a photo of my Professor, Pat Landolfi!

Paul Scott wrote:That album cover was moved around over the years. I hope it's still on the wall there; I spent quite a few nights there myself. Nice to see a photo of my Professor, Pat Landolfi!

Yes, it has been moved several times. The last time I was there (about 3 years ago) it was in the location I previously specified.

Aside from the obvious fact that he died way too young (68, I believe), it makes me sad personally that I never got to meet the man, as I was only 8 years old when he passed on. Some of the special moments I recall from my younger days are working with older musicians and hearing stories about the "old days" (e.g. Jimmy Maxwell telling me about his cornet lessons with H.L. Clarke!). It somehow helped me to make a tangible connection to those people long gone.